The Mineola boys varsity basketball team returns seven players from last year's team, which had a five win seven loss record in its conference. Coach Scott Donnellan thinks the outlook for this season is good. The Mustangs had two wins and two losses in a strong non-conference schedule. Since last year, though, the leagues in Nassau County boys basketball have been re-drawn. So, this season, Mineola will compete in Conference 8. Each team plays 14 league games and plays all of the other teams in the league twice. Conference 8 also includes Floral Park, Bellmore JFK, Valley Stream North, Carle Place, East Rockaway, Oyster Bay and Friends Academy. Floral Park has a returning All-County Guard and is seen as the team to beat. Coach Donnellan says his squad "will be led by senior captains Rich Medlock, Brian O'Neill and Matt Bispo. Medlock is a three-year starter, who averaged 11 points and nine rebounds as a junior. O'Neill, a two-year starter, will be counted upon to up his scoring from his eight points per game last year. Bispo has averaged 16 points per game in the non-conference schedule." There are three other seniors on this Mustang Squad. Greg Weiss will be expected to play key minutes. Gabe Moreira will be counted upon to score from outside the arc. Joe Baranello is a first-year player and will help off the bench. There are two juniors on the Mustang Squad this season, both of whom were key members of last year's team. Coach Donnellan says, "Dan Medlock has averaged 12 points per game in the non-conference schedule and Jerellee Harrison will dictate the offense through his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates." Another junior on the varsity for the first time is Joe Wissler. The Coach is looking for him "to fill the role of instant offense off the bench." Coach Donnellan is also hoping to get valuable play from sophomore Tommy Owens. "We are asking him to step in and play minutes in the backcourt," says the coach, who summed up his hopes by saying, "Overall, the team has shown some positive signs that could spell playoffs for the first time since 1999."

The varsity opened its non-conference schedule by winning the opener of the Garden City tournament. Mineola defeated the host team 59-50 behind 18 points from Matt Bispo, who led four players in double figures. Dan Medlock hit for 16 points, while Brian O'Neill had 13 and Rich Medlock 10. But, the Mustangs dropped the tournament championship game to West Hempstead 55 to 43. Rich Medlock had 12 points in that game while his brother, Dan, added 11. Then, in the Coaches versus Cancer Classic, Mineola lost at New Hyde Park 49 to 45. Matt Bispo scored 17 points in the loss while Rich Medlock added 12. But, in the consolation game, Mineola defeated Herricks 53 to 46 to even its record at 2 and 2 heading into the holiday break. Seven different players scored, led by Bispo's 14 points. Dan Medlock scored 11 points. When Herricks had cut Mineola's lead to four points in the third quarter, Gabe Moreira hit two straight 3 pointers to up the lead to 10 points.